Not Just Sweet! The secret of watermelon is actually amazing!
When it comes to summer fruits, watermelon is the name of the game! What kind of image do you have of watermelon, such a summer staple?
Many of you may be thinking, "Watermelon has almost no nutritional value." Many people may be thinking, "Watermelon has almost no nutrition. In fact, however, watermelon contains many nutrients that are good for beauty.
In this issue, we will introduce you to watermelon, which is full of such charm and sweetness, and what nutrition it contains. We have also prepared a quiz on watermelon, so be sure to give it a try!
Contents
Is watermelon a vegetable? A fruit?
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, watermelon is classified as a "fruity vegetable," and besides watermelon, strawberries and melons are also treated as the same species.
Although watermelon is considered a "vegetable" by the definition of plants and cultivation methods, it is often treated as a fruit in household surveys conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and in supermarkets.
Watermelon has no nutrients? What nutrients does it contain?
Watermelons, or "watermelons," as they are called in English, have a water content of about 901 TP2T in the flesh.
You may be thinking, "If it's mostly water, isn't there much nutrition in watermelon?" However, watermelon actually contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Here are three nutrients that are particularly effective for beauty.
ReferenceTokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market
lycopene
Lycopene is a good beauty nutrient that helps reduce melanin, which causes skin blemishes and dullness.
When most people think of foods high in lycopene, they probably think of tomatoes. In fact, watermelon contains more lycopene than tomatoes.
Lycopene has very strong antioxidant properties and helps remove active oxygen in the body.
Reactive oxygen species are substances that are necessary for maintaining health, such as fighting viruses that invade the body. However, too much reactive oxygen causes the body to oxidize, which leads to various skin problems.
Major causes of increased active enzymes include smoking, stress, food additives in processed foods, and UV rays. To reduce body oxidation, actively consume nutrients with antioxidant properties to maintain clean skin.
ReferenceLycopene | Ingredients | Secrets of Wakasa
beta-carotene
Watermelon also contains β-carotene in amounts comparable to green and yellow vegetables such as spinach, pumpkin, and carrots.
When β-carotene is ingested, part of it is converted into vitamin A (retinol) in the body, which helps maintain normal skin and mucous membranes and is an encouraging nutrient that prevents rough skin.
Beta-carotene, which was not converted to vitamin A, also has antioxidant properties like lycopene to maintain clean skin.
citrulline
The scientific name for watermelon is named Citrullus vulgaris, and as the name implies, it contains high levels of the nutrient citrulline.
Citrulline, also known as a super amino acid, helps alleviate skin damage caused by UV rays.
When human skin is exposed to ultraviolet light, excessive collagen breakdown occurs, which is harmful to the skin. By taking citrulline, the breakdown of collagen can be suppressed and skin elasticity can be maintained.
Not only does it make the skin supple, but it also helps to eliminate accumulated melanin pigment and prevent the formation of dark spots and dullness, which is exactly the kind of nutrient you want to actively consume during the summer months when UV rays are strong!
In addition, citrulline is a natural moisturizing factor, which means it retains moisture in the skin. It also widens blood vessels and improves blood flow, which may help reduce swelling.
Incidentally, the white part of the watermelon rind contains about twice as much citrulline as the flesh, so it would be a shame to throw it away without eating it! The white part of the rind is recommended to be cooked and eaten as pickles or pickles.
ReferenceWhat is Citrulline? | Kyowa Hakko Bio's Health Ingredients Laboratory
Eat watermelon and lose weight!
Watermelon is a great food for weight loss. If you are on a diet, please try to include watermelon in your daily diet.
Watermelon as a usual snack
For those who usually snack, we recommend eating watermelon instead of sweet treats.
According to the Japanese Food Standard Composition by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, watermelon has about 37 kcal per 100 g, which is lower in calories than bananas and other fruits.
| Food name | Energy (kcal / 100 g) |
|---|---|
| Watermelon (red meat) | 37 |
| banana | 93 |
| Kiwi (green meat) | 51 |
| unfinished | 49 |
By replacing your usual snacks with watermelon instead of high-calorie, fatty and sugary sweets, you can reduce calories without eating less.
Keeps you feeling fuller than snack foods
Scientific JournalsArticle published in Nutrients in 2019reported that eating watermelon instead of snacks kept them feeling full and suppressed their appetite, leading to weight loss.
A sustained feeling of fullness reduces the stress of dieting due to food restrictions, and watermelon is more nutritious than snacks, making watermelon a recommended food for a healthy diet.
Do not overeat.
Eating too much watermelon can lead to excessive water intake. Too much water can dilute stomach acid and cause indigestion or even diarrhea.
Also, because of the high water content, overeating can cool the body more than necessary.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' Dietary Balance Guide, the appropriate daily intake of watermelon is about 200 g (about one slice of watermelon), so be careful not to eat too much.
ReferenceDietary Balance Guide (Niigata Regional Version)｜ Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Take the watermelon trivia quiz!
We have introduced you to the various nutrients found in watermelon, and we have prepared a quiz to review what we have learned so far.
There will be a total of 5 questions. We hope you will give it a try!
Summary
In this issue, we have focused mainly on the nutrients found in watermelon that are linked to beauty.
Watermelon is truly a beauty essence to eat, and its high water content makes it an ideal food for combating heat stroke and summer heat exhaustion. It is rich in minerals, and when eaten with a trace amount of salt, it is said to have the same effect as a sports drink! By all means, eat watermelon to survive the hot summer.
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